Is this what you
want YOUR five-year-old learning about sex? Explicit materials cleared for
schools
UK Daily
Mail
By Kate
Loveys and Hannah
Roberts
Last updated at 12:28 PM on 9th March 2011
Explicit cartoons, films and books have been cleared for
use to teach sex education to schoolchildren as young as five.
A disturbing dossier exposes a wide range of graphic
resources recommended for primary school lessons.
The shocking material – promoted by local councils and
even the BBC – teaches youngsters about adult language and sexual intercourse.
Among
the books singled out in the report is How Did I Begin? by
Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom which has a cartoon
image of a couple in bed in an intimate embrace.
It
is accompanied by an explanation – using frank and adult terminology – of the
act of intercourse.
Another,
called The Primary School Sex And Relationships
Education Pack by HIT
The
BBC has been highlighted for an educational video featuring full frontal
nudity, while its learning resources department, BBC Active, shows
computer-generated images of male genitalia.
All
the material has been recommended by councils for use at ages ‘seven-plus’.
The
dossier, compiled by the Christian Institute, also pinpoints a book called
Let’s Talk About Sex, by Robie
H Harris, which includes a chapter on heterosexuality called ‘Straight and
Gay’.
Furious
family campaigners have described the material as ‘too much, too young’ and
warn it will encourage sexualisation.
Mike
Judge, of the Christian Institute, said: ‘The current approach to sex education
demands ever more explicit sex education at ever younger ages.
Controversial: A worrying dossier exposes a range of
graphic resources recommended for primary school lessons. Books singled out
include Let’s Talk About Sex, which includes a chapter on heterosexuality
called ‘Straight and Gay’ - and How Did I Begin?,
which has a cartoon image of a couple in bed in an intimate embrace
‘Parents don’t want
their children to be exposed to material which sexualises
them and most would be deeply upset if these materials were used with their
primary-aged child.
‘If public bodies
believe these resources are suitable for young children, there is clearly a
problem with their judgment and more control needs to be given to parents.’
The Christian Institute identified 16 councils which have recommended explicit
books and videos to schools.
These include
At present, primary and secondary
schools have to teach pupils ‘age-appropriate’ science lessons about the
biology of sex.
Schools must also
have a sex education policy, although the subject is compulsory only in
secondary education. However, the Coalition is reviewing sex education.
Before the election,
the Liberal Democrats said they ‘unreservedly’ supported mandatory sex
education in primary schools.
But in its report,
the Christian Institute warns ministers that compulsory sex education would
lead to the proliferation of explicit material.
It states: ‘If sex
education is made compulsory for primary schools, the publications highlighted
in this report are the kind of materials that will be used with children as
young as five.’
Last night, Swindon Council was unapologetic about its recommendation
of the material.
It confirmed it
recommended Let’s Talk About Where Babies Come From
and Let’s Talk About Sex, both by Robie H Harris, and
a Channel 4 DVD called All About Us Living And Growing.
A spokesman said the
material was recommended ‘to schools and governors as part of a much wider
range of resource options for teaching sex and relationship education. It is up
to individual schools and their governors whether they feel any of the
resources are appropriate’.
It said it did not
have information on whether any of the resources were being used in class.
Too much too young? 'Most parents would be deeply upset
if these materials were used with their primary-aged child' says the Christian Institute
In How Did I Begin?, which was highlighted in the Christian Institute report,
the image of a couple in bed is accompanied by the explanation: ‘As they
cuddled, your dad’s penis moved gently inside your mum’s vagina and the sperms
flowed out.’
The pack produced by
HIT
Labour had planned to amend
legislation to introduce sex education topics into the National Curriculum for
primary schools, which would have led to schools teaching pupils about
contraception and civil partnerships from age seven.
The Department for
Education said: ‘By law, schools must make sure that sex and relationship
education (SRE) classes are appropriate to pupils’ ages and maturity. It’s down
to teachers themselves to use their professional judgment in deciding this.
‘Parents retain the
right to pull their children out of any SRE class, outside statutory science,
if they are unhappy with teaching.’
Norman Wells, of the
Family Education Trust, said the use of explicit teaching tools was ‘deeply
concerning’ and eroded ‘traditional moral standards’.
He said: ‘It is vital
that schools remain accountable to parents at the local level and, in line with
the law, ensure that children are protected from inappropriate teaching and
materials, having regard for their age and religious and cultural background.
'Too many local
authorities are taking their lead from the Sex Education Forum – a body that
includes organisations that encourage sexual
experimentation and aim to break down traditional moral standards.
‘Introducing sex
education at an early age runs the risk of breaking down children’s natural
sense of reserve. Far from being a hindrance, children’s natural inhibitions
and sense of modesty in talking about sexual matters are healthy and provide a
necessary safeguard against both sexual abuse and casual attitudes towards
sexual intimacy later on.’
BBC Active said: ‘We
would stress that we leave it up to individual schools and parents to decide
what material is appropriate.’